Rivers APC: A silly lie from the abyss of hell that LG Council Chairman contributed money to ESI

From Paul Obiajunwo, Port Harcourt

Rivers State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that the wife of Minister of Transportation, Judith Amaechi forced members of Rivers State House of Assembly and Local Government Council Chairmen to contribute certain amount of money in financing her pet project, Empowerment Support Initiatives, (ESI) during the tenure of her husband.

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Samuel Nwanosike in a press briefing in Port Harcourt yesterday alleged that Amaechi’s wife was after politicians who did not contribute to her project.

He said some of the Council Chairmen and Assembly members that refused to do her bidding were denied the opportunity of being re-elected back to their former position.

It would be recalled that Governor Wike had in a live television program monitored in Port Harcourt accused Judith Amaechi of coaxing some government officials to pay between N1m to N3m into her ESI project.

Nwanosike who was reacting to the statement credited to former Commissioners and Council Chairmen that served under Amaechi that they did not contribute any money to Amaechi’s wife said the former Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area, Timothy Nsrim was removed from office because he refused to contribute money to Judith’s ESI.

“The evidence is very glaring and it’s not hidden. The wife of Minister of Transportation coaxed and intimidated council officials to pay certain amount of money to her pet project, ESI. Members of the State House of Assembly were forced to divert their constituency projects into building of schools in her ESI”

“So many of them complied and those that did not comply were denied a return ticket to their former position. Some of the council chairmen protested. Late Precious Oforji who was the Council Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Area led a protest against such illegal levy.”

“Some women that contributed money under her vehicle empowerment program are still crying today because the money they contributed in the scheme were not given back to them.”

On the judicial panel of inquiry set up by Rivers State government to probe the financial transactions of the State during former governor Chibuike Amaechi administration, PDP Publicity Secretary said the panel was in order in its verdict against the former governor.

The Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by governor Wike indicted the former governor of mismanaging the resources of the State during his administration.

He said the panel did a thorough job before it came out with its verdict which he said indicted the Minister of Transportation of financial misappropriation.

He said Amaechi had approached both a high court and an appeal court to up turn the verdict of the panel but failed stressing that he will also fail in his bid to up turn the verdict at the Supreme court.

He added “Amaechi mismanaged our resources for 8 years. All that we have gotten under his watch is lost . Our resources were looted by him . We have records to show how he looted our resources. He went to court to question the outcome of the inquiry and he lost”

“He went to appeal court and lost. He has gone to Supreme court and he will also fail. The law is very clear about setting up of the panel of inquiry and the court of appeal stated clearly that he (governor Wike) has right to set up a commission of inquiry . Due process was followed in setting up the panel. A man that was indicted by a panel should not be coming to State to make noise.”

But when contacted the All Progressive Congress (APC) State Publicity Secretary,Chris Finebone he said that,“ The Council Chairmen under former Governor Amaechi have debunked that silly lie from the abyss of hell that LG Council Chairman contributed money to ESI – the pet NGO established and run by Amaechi’s wife. That Gov. Nyesom Wike and subsequently the PDP extended their lies to the family of Amaechi clearly portrays the real low life that their existence represent.

“ Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will surely be vindicated by the Supreme Court over his contention that the commission of enquiry set up to investigate him by Gov. Wike is an exercise in futility only meant to witch-hunt the Minister.